Issaquah School District: Levy Development Committee Meets In December, January

Press release from the Issaquah School District:

December 7, 2021

Last week was the first of a series of meetings of the Levy Development Committee, which will work throughout this month and next month to form a recommendation for a levy package for a 2022 election. The committee will present its recommendation to Superintendent Ron Thiele, who is scheduled to bring the final proposal to the Issaquah School Board for approval at the Jan. 27, 2022 School Board Meeting. If the committee needs additional time, the Board's review of the package will be adjusted accordingly.

The Levy Development Committee will consider the proposed content, total cost and tax impact of three ballot measures: an Educational Programs and Operations Levy (formerly called the Maintenance and Operations Levy), a Capital (Technology and Critical Repairs) Levy, and a Transportation (Bus) Levy.

“Levies are still critical in Washington state,” Superintendent Ron Thiele said at the first meeting of the Levy Development Committee on Dec. 2. While the Legislature has made progress toward providing more funding for education, many unfunded mandates and gaps in funding still exist. Thiele thanked the community members and staff serving on the committee. “I’m just so appreciative of all the work,” he said. “I hope you’re not shy about sharing opinions and thoughts and questions.”

Thiele and several Issaquah School Board members attended the meeting to listen and observe. Voting committee members include representatives from each school, principals from each region and grade span, representatives from the PTSA Council, Volunteers for Issaquah Schools, the Issaquah Education Association, classified staff, the business community, the senior community and the community at large. A team of non-voting members will include department directors and district staff who will provide facilitation, support and guidance with technical information and data.

Levy Development Committee meetings are open to the public and will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. on the dates listed below at Issaquah Middle School. Agendas will be posted before each meeting; mini summaries will be made available after each meeting; and official notes will be posted as well.

The remaining scheduled meeting dates are: Dec. 14, Jan. 6, Jan. 18 and potentially on Jan. 25 if the committee needs an additional meeting to complete its work.

To read the committee's charter, review the roster or for other details, visit our website.

This press release was produced by the Issaquah School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.